Carlisle

Carlisle's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Carlisle increased by 6.7%, from just under 101,000 to 108,000.

The addition of just under 6,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Carlisle was home to, on average, 0.74 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Carlisle

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Carlisle increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than the North West and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 12% of people in Carlisle are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Carlisle

The number of people in Carlisle that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to about 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 11% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Carlisle that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 81,000 in 2001 to just over 74,000 in 2011 (from 81% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 7,800 to about 7,300 (from 7.8% to 6.8%).

Just under 460 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from about 240 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Carlisle increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Carlisle by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Carlisle

The percentage of Carlisle residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.9% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of Carlisle residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Carlisle at a faster rate than in nearby Eden.

In Carlisle, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Carlisle fell from 18% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70% to 68%.

Private renting in Carlisle increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Carlisle, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Carlisle residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.7% to 6.0% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Carlisle residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Carlisle decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Carlisle, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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